Furnace



Mar 6, 1923.

F. 8. BITGOOD FURNACE Filed Dec 6, 1921 FkEDER/CK 5 5/750 00,

ATTo /Em.

Patented Mar. 6, 1923..

Law

FREDERICK S. BITGOOD, OF BUTTONWILLOW, CALIFORNIA.

FURNACE.

Application filed December 6, 1921. Serial No. 520,260.

To a whom. it may concern:

lie it known that I, Fnnmuucx S. Brroool), a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Buttonwillow, in the county of Kern and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Furnaces, ofwhich the following is a specification.

Mv invention relates to furnaces and gas burners and more particularlyto furnaces which are fired by gas or other fluid fuel.

The principal object of the invention -is to provide in a furnace ofthis type means for insuring an efficient combustion.

Further objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a cross sect-ion through a furnace equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale showing a portion of the mixingtubes and fire surfaces.

Fig. 3 is a section on a plane represented by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the structure show in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the arrangement of fire areasin the structure shown inFig. 1. I

In the form of the invention shown a furnace isprovided-having a firebox 11. This fire box has a front wall 12 and a rear wall 13. The firebox 11 is also provided with a floor or grate 15, the construction ofwhich will now be. described.

Extending into the space below the floor 15 are gas pipes 16, 17 and 18,the flow of through each of these pipes being controlled by a valve 19and all of the pipes being fed through risers 20 from a gas main 21. Thepipes 16, 17 and 18 are supported on cross members 25 and are providedwith burners 26 on which fire clay tubes 27 are supported by means ofbrackets 28. Supported on members 29 over the fire tubes 27 are twocourses 30 and 31 of fire bricks having openings 32 therebetween throughwhich the combustible mixture is free to rise.

In the form of the invention shown, the space below the floor 15 whichis formed of the members 26 to 32, just described, is divided by meansof walls 40 and 41 into three chambers 42, 43 and 44. The walls 40 and41 are air tight and form conduits which extend to the front of thefurnace, each being provided with a damper 46. Each of the dampersregulates the amount of air admitted to one of the chamber 42, 43 and44. The walls 41 and 42'form a tight closure with the lower portion ofthe floor 15; that portion of the floor 15 lying above the chambers 42,43 and 44 may be considered as divided into three fire areas designatedas A, B and C, each of these fire areas being fed by one of the gassupply pipes 16, 17 and 18 and the supply of air thereto beingcontrolled by one of the dampers 46 controlling the flow of air to oneof the chambers 43, 44 and 45.

The method of operation is as follows:

The gas or other fluid fuel is delivered, for example, through the pipe16 and is forced through one of the burners 26. The fuel in a finelydivided or gaseous form then rises through the tube 27, being mixedtherein with air to a suitable degree to provide a combustible mixture.This combustible mixture passes through the spaces between the members31 and 32, the products of combustion being finally delivered to thespace over the floor 15.

In this manner a very uniform and per: fect combustion can be obtainedover the entire surface of the floor. Owing, however, to heatingconditions within the furnace and particularly to the distribution ofthis heat in the furnace, it is often neces sary to vary the proportionsof the mixtures delivered to each of the fire areas A, B and C, and toregulate the amount of fuel delivered thereto, the degree of suchregulation being governed by the operator who observes the fire througha peep hole 51. The supply of air and fuel to each of the areas A, B andC is under perfect control, the fuel being regulated by the valves 19and the air being regulated by the dampers 46. It is thus possible forthe operator to control the proportions of air and fuel in each of theareas A, B and C and the quantity of air or fuel delivered to each area.It is possible under some conditions to entirely shut off the flow offuel in one or more areas or to so regulate the combustion. in any area.that the efficiency of the furnace as a whole may be maintained underwidely varying load conditions. It is, of course, possible to divide theinterior ofthe furnace up into more thanthree fire zones.

I claim as my invention 1. In a furnace, the combination of wallsforming a fire box; material forming a floor for said fire box, saidfloor having openings therein; walls forming a plurality of independentchambers below said floor thereby ('lividing said floor into a pluralityof fire areas; means for producing a combustible mixture of gases foreach of said fire areas; and means for controlling the pro portions ofsaid mixture in each of said areas quite independent of the. otherareas.

2. Ina furnace, the combination of walls forming a fire box; materialforming a floor for said fire box, said floor having openings therein;walls forming a plurality of independent chambers below said floorthereby dividing said floor into a plurality of fire areas; meansforproducing a combustible mixture of gases for each of said fire areas;and means for controlling the rate of flow of said mixture in each ofsaid areas quite independent of the other areas.

3. In a furnace, the combination of Walls formin a. fire box; materialforming a floor for sai fire box, said floor ha ving: openings therein;walls foruung a plurality of independent chambers below said fioorthereby dividing said floor into a plurality of'fire areas; a pluralityof gas pipes each delivering a combustible gas to one of said fireareas; means for mixing said gas with air before. delivery to said fire.areas; and means of controlling the flow of gas to each fire areaindependently of the flow of gas to the other fire areas.

4. In a furnace, the combination of walls forming a fire box; materialforming a floor for said fire box, said floor having: openings therein;walls forming a plurality of independent chambers below said floorthereby dividing said floor into a plurality of fire areas; a pluralityof gas pipes each delivering a combustible gas to one of said fireareas; means for mixing said gas with air before delivery to said fireareas; and means for regulating the amount of air delivered to each firearea.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles,California, this 17th day of November, 1921.

FREDERICK S. BI'H l( )I).

